fan interference?

[greymule]

Though he would have to be quite an acrobat, a fielder could legally jump to the top of the fence and catch a ball while standing there. However, if the fans lifted him up, he couldn't make a legal catch. It would be the same as if he made the catch after falling into the stands. I'd allow the catch if he was standing on the fence and fans were merely touching him, or if he jumped from the top of the fence and appeared to make the catch on his own.

I have never actually seen this play, but if it occurred in your Pony League, I hope the umpires got it right.

How would you call this one, which involved Frank Robinson in Yankee Stadium in the 1960s? In those days, the left and right field fences in Yankee Stadium were only about three feet high.

Bottom of the ninth, two out, Yankees trailing by a run with one runner on. Ball hit to deep right field. Frank Robinson went back to the fence, jumped high, caught the ball, and then fell into the stands and disappeared behind the fence. After about five full seconds, he reappeared among a crowd of fans behind the fence and showed the umpire the ball in his glove. If you were the ump, how would you have called that play?